As someone deeply invested in personal development and coaching, I’ve often encountered the concept of time optimism—the belief that we can accomplish more in a given time frame than is realistically possible.
Now, I appreciate that some of you will already be rolling your eyes at this point and thinking ‘not another label people can pin on themselves’ so let me declare my stance on labels. They can be useful but they are not the be all and end all. If having a label (an explanation for certain ways of being) allows the label-owner and those around them to slow down and appreciate we are all different and need help in different ways then that has to be a good thing. But we should not let these labels be barriers that stop us from thriving.
Anyway, back to the label of time optimism, a mindset that while rooted in positive intentions, can be both a blessing and a curse and is worthy of discussion.
Time optimism is the tendency to underestimate the duration of tasks and overestimate our capacity to complete them within a set period. This often stems from enthusiasm and a desire to be productive, but without a realistic grasp of time, unchecked time optimism can lead to several problems including:
- Chronic Lateness: Regularly underestimating task durations can result in habitual tardiness, affecting personal and professional relationships.
- Overcommitment and Burnout: Taking on more than one can handle and the mis-match between expectation and reality can lead to stress, exhaustion, and diminished performance.
- Missed Deadlines: Misjudging time requirements can cause last-minute rushes and incomplete work both of which potentially compromises the quality of work.
- Strained Relationships: Consistently failing to meet time commitments can erode trust among colleagues, friends, and family.
However, there are always two sides to every story and despite the obvious downside, time optimism isn’t entirely negative. Some of the benefits include:
- Enhanced Motivation: Believing that tasks are manageable can reduce procrastination, making it easier to start and maintain momentum.
- Positive Outlook: Time optimists often approach challenges with enthusiasm and a ‘can-do’ attitude which can foster creativity, resilience and adaptability.
- Willingness to Embrace Opportunities: This mindset encourages individuals to take on new projects, leading to personal and professional growth.
- Ability to Work Under Pressure: Frequent encounters with tight schedules can enhance one’s ability to perform efficiently in high-pressure situations.
- High Ambition: The time optimist may take on more tasks or opportunities than others would because they are driven by the belief they can manage it all.
The irony of this discussion as far as a busy teacher is concerned is not lost on me. The cause of poor time management is often not the teacher’s fault, one minute they have their work scheduled, the next minute they are covering a lesson or dealing with a chunk of new work imposed on them last minute. The expectations on teachers are crazy. Fullstop. But many teachers find a way and there’s no doubt that the ability to balance time optimism with realism has the potential to be a powerful asset.
If you identify as a time optimist, there are numerous strategies that can help to align your ambition and enthusiasm with practical time management. Simple ideas such as incorporating time buffers to more structured concepts such as time management tools. I believe it is in the gift of each person to shift who they are being and move past the obstacles and challenges, but sometimes we all need a helping hand to make that shift and to see things differently.
For any time optimists out there who want to shift (who want to turn their ‘problem’ into a superpower) I invite you to drop me a line for a simple list of strategies to experiment with – liz@liztaplin.com
Photo Credit: Kama Tulkibayeva on Unsplash